September 16, 2022 Quick space links
Courtesy of BtB’s stringer Jay, who trolls Twitter so I don’t have to.
- UAE signs deal with China to do joint Moon mission
No details as yet released, but expect more by next week.
- Ariane 6 core stage test model completes test program in French Guiana
This is not a real Ariane 6, but a mock-up used to test roll-out, assembly, and launch procedures in advance of the arrival of the real thing.
- Elon Musk gives Jay Leno a tour of Boca Chica
The link includes a short clip. The full tour will air on Jay Leno’s Garage on CNBC on September 21st.
- Video from UK startup Black Arrow showing its proposed smallsat launch rocket, launched from a ship at sea
The concept is brilliant. Since smallsat rockets are designed to ship in containers or trucks and launch from simple concrete pads, bringing everything with them, there really is no reason they couldn’t also launch from the deck of a ship.
- Assessment of the objects remaining from Russia’s November 2021 anti-satellite test
Generally good news. According to this analysis, of the 1,785 objects catalogued, only 585 remain in orbit, and of those 547 are expected to burn up within the next three years. This will leave only 38 pieces of debris threatening ISS and other satellites.
- Federal military-industrial complex discussing ways to compensate private satellite constellations if attacked by foreign powers
The level of corruption I smell from this story sickens me. There might be good reasons to do this, but I am certain in the end none of those reasons will drive this new policy. Instead, it will be designed as a way to suck more money from the taxpayers for private companies who are friends of politcians and donate to their campaign coffers.
The support of my readers through the years has given me the freedom and ability to analyze objectively the ongoing renaissance in space, as well as the cultural changes -- for good or ill -- that are happening across America. Four years ago, just before the 2020 election I wrote that Joe Biden's mental health was suspect. Only in the past two weeks has the mainstream media decided to recognize that basic fact.
Fourteen years ago I wrote that SLS and Orion were a bad ideas, a waste of money, would be years behind schedule, and better replaced by commercial private enterprise. Even today NASA and Congress refuses to recognize this reality.
In 2020 when the world panicked over COVID I wrote that the panic was unnecessary, that the virus was apparently simply a variation of the flu, that masks were not simply pointless but if worn incorrectly were a health threat, that the lockdowns were a disaster and did nothing to stop the spread of COVID. Only in the past year have some of our so-called experts in the health field have begun to recognize these facts.
Your help allows me to do this kind of intelligent analysis. I take no advertising or sponsors, so my reporting isn't influenced by donations by established space or drug companies. Instead, I rely entirely on donations and subscriptions from my readers, which gives me the freedom to write what I think, unencumbered by outside influences.
Please consider supporting my work here at Behind the Black.
You can support me either by giving a one-time contribution or a regular subscription. There are five ways of doing so:
1. Zelle: This is the only internet method that charges no fees. All you have to do is use the Zelle link at your internet bank and give my name and email address (zimmerman at nasw dot org). What you donate is what I get.
2. Patreon: Go to my website there and pick one of five monthly subscription amounts, or by making a one-time donation.
3. A Paypal Donation:
5. Donate by check, payable to Robert Zimmerman and mailed to
Behind The Black
c/o Robert Zimmerman
P.O.Box 1262
Cortaro, AZ 85652
You can also support me by buying one of my books, as noted in the boxes interspersed throughout the webpage or shown in the menu above. And if you buy the books through the ebookit links, I get a larger cut and I get it sooner.
Courtesy of BtB’s stringer Jay, who trolls Twitter so I don’t have to.
- UAE signs deal with China to do joint Moon mission
- Ariane 6 core stage test model completes test program in French Guiana
- Elon Musk gives Jay Leno a tour of Boca Chica
- Video from UK startup Black Arrow showing its proposed smallsat launch rocket, launched from a ship at sea
- Assessment of the objects remaining from Russia’s November 2021 anti-satellite test
- Federal military-industrial complex discussing ways to compensate private satellite constellations if attacked by foreign powers
No details as yet released, but expect more by next week.
This is not a real Ariane 6, but a mock-up used to test roll-out, assembly, and launch procedures in advance of the arrival of the real thing.
The link includes a short clip. The full tour will air on Jay Leno’s Garage on CNBC on September 21st.
The concept is brilliant. Since smallsat rockets are designed to ship in containers or trucks and launch from simple concrete pads, bringing everything with them, there really is no reason they couldn’t also launch from the deck of a ship.
Generally good news. According to this analysis, of the 1,785 objects catalogued, only 585 remain in orbit, and of those 547 are expected to burn up within the next three years. This will leave only 38 pieces of debris threatening ISS and other satellites.
The level of corruption I smell from this story sickens me. There might be good reasons to do this, but I am certain in the end none of those reasons will drive this new policy. Instead, it will be designed as a way to suck more money from the taxpayers for private companies who are friends of politcians and donate to their campaign coffers.
The support of my readers through the years has given me the freedom and ability to analyze objectively the ongoing renaissance in space, as well as the cultural changes -- for good or ill -- that are happening across America. Four years ago, just before the 2020 election I wrote that Joe Biden's mental health was suspect. Only in the past two weeks has the mainstream media decided to recognize that basic fact.
Fourteen years ago I wrote that SLS and Orion were a bad ideas, a waste of money, would be years behind schedule, and better replaced by commercial private enterprise. Even today NASA and Congress refuses to recognize this reality.
In 2020 when the world panicked over COVID I wrote that the panic was unnecessary, that the virus was apparently simply a variation of the flu, that masks were not simply pointless but if worn incorrectly were a health threat, that the lockdowns were a disaster and did nothing to stop the spread of COVID. Only in the past year have some of our so-called experts in the health field have begun to recognize these facts.
Your help allows me to do this kind of intelligent analysis. I take no advertising or sponsors, so my reporting isn't influenced by donations by established space or drug companies. Instead, I rely entirely on donations and subscriptions from my readers, which gives me the freedom to write what I think, unencumbered by outside influences.
Please consider supporting my work here at Behind the Black.
You can support me either by giving a one-time contribution or a regular subscription. There are five ways of doing so:
1. Zelle: This is the only internet method that charges no fees. All you have to do is use the Zelle link at your internet bank and give my name and email address (zimmerman at nasw dot org). What you donate is what I get.
2. Patreon: Go to my website there and pick one of five monthly subscription amounts, or by making a one-time donation.
3. A Paypal Donation:
5. Donate by check, payable to Robert Zimmerman and mailed to
Behind The Black
c/o Robert Zimmerman
P.O.Box 1262
Cortaro, AZ 85652
You can also support me by buying one of my books, as noted in the boxes interspersed throughout the webpage or shown in the menu above. And if you buy the books through the ebookit links, I get a larger cut and I get it sooner.
Just got back from a 3 day “Space” vacation in Boca Chica. Beach road was open, so got to drive right by Starship 24 and Booster 7. Got to walk right up to the Rocket Garden. Visited the Rocket Ranch. Nice people. Got to see the observation outpost that I have seats reserved for first flight. It was a great visit. Then I went to the airport to go home.
Brownsville TX airport (BRO) is a small airport with about 125 seats in ticketing area. Only 2 airlines serve BRO. ALL ticketing area waiting seats FILLED with illegal aliens carrying their ICE /Court paperwork in little red bags.
Show the ticket agent your little paperwork and get a free ticket. Show the TSA officer your little paperwork and get admitted to the gate area without ID. Every one of the illegals had a cellphone. Each had an envelope with some number of crisp new $1, $5 and $10 bills. All dressed casually but well, almost all young adult males.
United flight before us to Houston had what looked like all seats filled by illegal aliens. UAL ticket agent said I was wrong, only 97% filled with illegals. We were going home to Fort Worth. Our fight to DFW had 72 seats in coach. 64 illegal aliens on board to be dispersed through the metroplex. One of the crew told me as we were waiting for a bus that UA and AA get full price for each illegal ticket. They get more bucks from illegals than from me. This explains why AA was trying to get me to give up my two seats.
I’m ready to immigrate to Mars Elon.
Good news about the Russkie ASAT debris. Thanks for that.